Abstract: The Geoffrey Bell papers contain materials relating to his career as a film historian and film producer, chiefly about early
film-making in the San Francisco Bay Area. The bulk of the collection, which has been arranged in six series, consists of
correspondence, synopsis, scripts, drafts, research and production files, notes, publicity, reviews, clippings, and financial
reports for Bell's films, books, articles, and speeches. The collection contains material both created and collected by Bell
in the course of his work, and includes some original programs and clippings from the 1910s that are not reflected in the
date span of the collection.

Languages Represented: Collection materials are in English

Physical Location: Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information
on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.

Information for Researchers

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts
must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft
Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which
must also be obtained by the reader.

Videotapes/sound recordings have been transferred to the Microforms Collection of The Bancroft Library.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Motion picture industry--California--San Francisco Bay Area--History

Motion pictures--History

Anderson, Gilbert M., 1882-1971

Essanay Film Manufacturing Co.--History

Western films--United States--History and criticism

Muybridge, Eadweard, 1830-1904

London, Jack, 1876-1916.--Biography

Harte, Bret, 1836-1902--Biography

Manuscripts for publication

Scripts (documents)

Photographs

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

The Geoffrey Bell Papers were given to The Bancroft Library by Geoffrey Bell in February 1990.

Accruals

No additions are expected.

Processing Information

Processed by Iris Donovan and Lisa de Larios in 1998.

Biographical Information

Mr. Bell, after retiring from a career in the U.S. Coast Guard, studied film at San Francisco State University. He has produced
and directed several award-winning documentary films and published a number of articles and a book on film history,
The Golden Gate and the Silver Screen.

Scope and Content of Collection

The Geoffrey Bell papers contain materials relating to his career as a film historian and film producer, chiefly concerning
early film-making in the San Francisco Bay Area. The collection includes files relating to Bell's best known films,
Movies Go West, First (Motion) Picture Show, and
Those Daring Young Film Makers by the Golden Gate, among others, and for his book,
The Golden Gate and the Silver Screen. There is material both created and collected by Bell in the course of his work, including some original programs and clippings
from the 1910s. His papers conclude with a small amount of correspondence with personal friends, acquaintances, and others
interested in Bell and his work on film history, as well as a few miscellaneous items concerning Geoffrey Bell and the Bell
family.

Bell's two films about California authors:
My Jack London: a Daughter Remembers, and
Bret Harte: Chronicler of the West, are well represented in the collection, which also includes materials relating to his two early films,
Point Reyes and Maya. Files for his book,
The Golden Gate and the Silver Screen, include detailed card indices created during the project, plus a large quantity of copy prints he gathered in the course
of his work. There are also drafts and research materials for an unpublished book,
Broncho Billy: The First Reel Cowboy.

The bulk of the collection, which has been arranged in six series, consists of correspondence, synopsis, scripts, drafts,
research and production files, notes, publicity, reviews, clippings, and financial reports for Bell's films, books, articles,
and speeches.

Container List

Arranged chronologically by date of production. Divided into 7 sub-series, by title of film:
Point Reyes; Maya; Movies Go West; First (Motion) Picture Show;Those Daring Young Film Makers by the Golden Gate; My Jack London: a Daughter Remembers; and Bret Harte: Chronicler of the
West.

Scope and Content Note

Contains correspondence, synopsis, scripts, production notes, research files, publicity, clippings, and financial reports
for each work. Some original programs and clippings from 1914-1916 are found among the research materials but have not been
taken into account in the date span of the collection.

1.1
Point Reyes1968-1970

Physical Description:
Carton 1, folders 1-6

Scope and Content Note

An interpretive documentary of one of the most beautiful areas of the Pacific Coast reflecting Japanese conservationists view
of the Point Reyes National Seashore.

Carton 1, Folder 1

Correspondence1969-1970

Carton 1, Folder 2

Receipts and cost statements1968

Carton 1, Folder 3

Synopsis1968 March 4

Carton 1, Folder 4

Script1968 April 14

Carton 1, Folder 5

Program and description1969 Sept. 15

Carton 1, Folder 6

Research poemundated

1.2
Maya1969-1971

Physical Description:
Carton 1, folders 7-12

Scope and Content Note

An interpretive documentary about the Mayan civilization, showing their achievements and contributions to the cultural heritage
of the American continent.

Documents an important chapter in early film history of the San Francisco Bay Area through the reminiscences of Hal Angus,
a member of the original Essanay Film Manufacturing Company. Angus revisits the site of the studio in Niles, near San Jose,
where the original Essanay building-an old barn-still stands. He shows nearby locations where, between 1909 and 1916, Gilbert
M. Anderson produced and starred in hundreds of "Bronco Billy" films, the first westerns to be filmed in authentic "Wild West"
locales. Old photographs, graphics, and clips from the films, including an excerpt from Charlie Chaplin's first work in the
western U.S. show how Anderson created the prototype of the cowboy movie hero and established the format of the classic American
western.

Documents the world's first exhibition of motion pictures before public audiences, which took place at the San Francisco Art
Association on May 4, 1880, using still photos, newspaper clips, and music from the day. Reporting by an eyewitness writer
from the daily
Alta California establishes the background of the story and introduces the characters: photographer, Eadweard Muybridge; industrialist, Leland
Stanford, who supplied the funding; and electrical engineer, John J. Isaacs, who contributed the technology. The reporter
reviews the three basic elements of the motion picture: projection, animation, and photography, and traces the history of
the quest to depict life motion, which were finally synthesized and put into practical form by Stanford, Isaacs, and Muybridge
between 1872 and 1880.

The City of the Pharaoh from Cecil B. DeMille's
Ten Commandmentsundated

Oversize Box 1, Folder 3

Mary Pickford,
Salomy Janeundated

Oversize Box 1, Folder 4

Theaters, New York and San Franciscoundated

Carton 3, Folder 20

Location shoot prints1977-1979

Carton 3, Folder 21

Mounted photographsundated

1.6
My Jack London: A Daughter Remembers1981-1989

Physical Description:
Carton 3, folders 22-51

Scope and Content Note

Documentary about California author, Jack London, with reminiscences of his only surviving descendant, his daughter Becky
London at age 81. Alternating with Ms. London's scenes are segments of historical photographs and prints with narration that
amplifies and interprets her recollection by placing them in their social, cultural, and historic contexts.

The story of how Bret Harte became an important writer and why his writing has such an enduring impact in American literature.

Correspondence

Carton 3, Folder 52

Becker, Marvin1987-1988

Carton 3, Folder 53

Brownlow, Kevin1985-1988

Carton 3, Folder 54

Mariposa Museum and History Center1988

Carton 3, Folder 55

Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.)1986-1987

Carton 3, Folder 56

Pailthorp, Charles1987-1988

Carton 3, Folder 57

Porter, Alan B.1986-1987

Carton 3, Folder 58

San Souci, Robert D.1986-1987

Carton 3, Folder 59

Thomson, Sedgefield1987-1988

Carton 3, Folder 60

Toll, Robert C.1985-1989

Carton 3, Folders 61-66

Miscellaneous, A-Z1985-1989

Carton 4, Folder 1

Production notes1987

Carton 4, Folder 2

Expense sheets and receipts1987-1988

Carton 4, Folder 3

Scene counts1988

Carton 4, Folder 4

Soundtrack notes1988

Carton 4, Folder 5

Credits1988

Carton 4, Folder 6

Narrator publicity photographsundated

Carton 4, Folder 7

Script draft notes1987

Carton 4, Folders 8-17

Script drafts1986-1988

Research materials

Carton 4, Folder 18

Research notes1986

Carton 4, Folder 19

Research articles (photocopies)1979, undated

Carton 4, Folder 20

Line drawings from movie stillsundated

Carton 4, Folders 21-22

Research illustrations (photocopies)undated

Carton 4, Folder 23

Research photographs (photocopies)undated

Oversize Box 1, Folders 5-6

Illustrations of early western and city life; stage coach hold-upundated

Oversize Box 1, Folder 7

Photographs for introduction and creditsundated

Carton 4, Folder 24

Story titles (mounted)undated

Carton 4, Folder 25

Photocopied illustrations (mounted)undated

Research copy prints

Carton 4, Folder 26

Bret Harteundated

Carton 4, Folder 27

Frontier lifeundated

Carton 4, Folder 28

Literary menundated

Carton 4, Folder 29

Mining scenesundated

Carton 4, Folder 30

Early San Franciscoundated

Series 2
Articles, Speeches, and Other Writings1957-1989

Physical Description:
Carton 5, folders 1-45

Arrangement

Arranged as received.

Scope and Content Note

Contains correspondence, drafts of published and unpublished articles, notes, speeches, and research files relating to several
articles by Bell, and a book,
Broncho Billy: The First Reel Cowboy (not published).

Contains correspondence, drafts, research and production files, and publicity relating to Bell's book on the history of film
making in the San Francisco Bay Area. Includes detailed card indices relating to the project, and a large quantity of copy
prints collected by Bell in the course of his work.

Correspondence

Carton 5, Folder 46

A-Z miscellaneous1981-1985

Carton 5, Folder 47

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences1965-1985

Carton 5, Folder 48

American Film Institute1970-1985

Carton 5, Folder 49

Associated University Presses1981-1987

Carton 5, Folder 50

Bell & Howell Co.1967

Carton 5, Folder 51

Boardman, True1972-1974

Carton 5, Folder 52

Brownlow, Kevin1967-1986

Carton 5, Folder 53

Bullis, Douglas1980

Carton 5, Folder 54

California Historical Society1980-1986

Carton 5, Folder 55

California State Library1964-1986

Carton 5, Folder 56

Cornwall Books1982-1984

Carton 5, Folder 57

Flick, Wilson1977-1987

Carton 5, Folder 58

Gillespie, Bunny1978-1985

Carton 5, Folder 59

Gillespie, Ken1980-1982

Carton 6, Folder 1

Lesser, Julian, 1915-20051987

Carton 6, Folder 2

Lesser, Sol, 1890-19801964-1972

Carton 6, Folder 3

Lopez, Sally1975-1986

Carton 6, Folder 4

Lucasfilm, Ltd.1979-1989

Carton 6, Folder 5

Mozeley, Anita1973-1987

Carton 6, Folder 6

Musser, Charles1981-1982

Carton 6, Folder 7

Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.)1957-1981

Carton 6, Folder 8

Oakland Museum1977-1986

Carton 6, Folder 9

Porter, Alan B.1981-1987

Carton 6, Folder 10

San Mateo County Historical Association1964-1973

Carton 6, Folder 11

San Mateo Times1972

Carton 6, Folder 12

San Souci, Robert D.1983-1987

Carton 6, Folder 13

Schreiber, Ron1984

Carton 6, Folder 14

Smithsonian Institution1974-1981

Carton 6, Folder 15

Society of California Pioneers1980-1984

Carton 6, Folder 16

Spehr, Paul C.1986-1987

Carton 6, Folder 17

Starr, Kevin1984

Carton 6, Folder 18

Stone, Andrew L., 1902-19991967-1968

Carton 6, Folder 19

Von Sternberg, Josef, 1894-19691965-1966

Carton 6, Folder 20

Warner, John L.1972

Carton 6, Folder 21

Wilde, Jim1989

Carton 6, Folder 22

Yoseloff, Thomas (Consolidated Publishing Corporation, N.J.)1981

Carton 6, Folders 23-30

Miscellaneous, A-Z1964-1987

Carton 6, Folder 31

Royalty statements1983-1984

Carton 6, Folder 32

Expense sheets and receipts1971-1985

Carton 6, Folder 33

Publicity1983-1985

Oversize Box 1, Folder 8

Reproductions for flyerundated

Carton 6, Folder 34

Account of plagarism1987

Carton 6, Folder 35

Notes for production assistance1980-1985

Carton 6, Folder 36

Research agenda1963-1981

Carton 6, Folder 37

Draft list of illustrationsundated

Carton 6, Folder 38

Draftsundated

Carton 6, Folder 39

Drafts/edits: prologue, epilogue, addendaundated

Carton 6, Folder 40

Notes for afterwordundated

Carton 6, Folder 41

Drafts/edits: postscriptundated

Carton 6, Folder 42

Drafts/edits: appendices B, Fundated

Research Notes

Carton 6, Folder 43

Typed list of features made in or about San Francisco up to 1984[1984?]